Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed tissue (the pulp) from inside a tooth, disinfects the canals and seals them, so you can keep your natural tooth instead of having it taken out. At our Al Qusais, Dubai clinic, it is done under local anaesthetic by our root canal specialist, Dr. Rasmina K. Nizar.
Why does a tooth need a root canal?
Because bacteria have reached the pulp, the soft core of nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth. This usually happens through deep decay, a crack or a leaking old filling.
Left untreated, the infection can spread into the bone at the tip of the root, form an abscess, and the tooth may be lost. A fully grown tooth can keep working without its pulp, which is why it can usually be saved.
What are the signs you may need one?
- Toothache that is constant, throbbing or wakes you at night
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the food or drink has gone
- Pain when you bite on one particular tooth
- Swelling of the gum near a tooth, or a recurring small pimple on the gum
- A tooth that has darkened, often after a knock
Some infected teeth cause no pain and are found only on an X-ray. No pain does not always mean no problem, and treating early is usually simpler.
What happens during root canal treatment?
- Diagnosis. X-rays show the infection and the shape of the canals, and tests with cold or a mild electric stimulus show whether the pulp is still alive.
- Numbing. The tooth is numbed and checked before any work starts. If a badly infected tooth stays sensitive, extra anaesthetic techniques can be used. A thin rubber sheet (rubber dam) keeps the tooth clean and dry.
- Cleaning the canals. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth. Each canal is shaped with flexible nickel-titanium rotary files and rinsed with a disinfecting solution. Front teeth usually have one canal, premolars one or two, and molars three or four.
- Sealing. The canals are filled with gutta-percha, a rubber-like material, and sealed so bacteria cannot get back in.
- Protecting the tooth. The opening is closed, and a crown is usually fitted 2–4 weeks later.
How long does a root canal take?
Usually one or two appointments of 60–90 minutes. A front tooth with one canal is often finished in a single visit; a molar with several canals may need two, with a medicated dressing inside the tooth in between.
Do you need a crown after a root canal?
In most cases, yes. Without its pulp a tooth becomes more brittle, and a zirconia or ceramic crown protects it from cracking and restores normal chewing.
How much does a root canal cost in Dubai?
Root canal treatment starts from AED 700 per tooth, or from AED 1,200 together with a zirconia crown; see all prices.
Risks and what to expect
What to expect
Root canal treatment is done under local anaesthesia, in one or more visits. The tooth usually needs a crown afterwards to protect it.
Possible side effects and risks
- Tenderness for a few days after treatment
- Persistent or returning infection that may need retreatment, surgery or extraction
- A treated tooth can become brittle and crack, which is why a crown is often advised
- Rarely, a small instrument fragment left in the canal
Results vary from person to person and are not guaranteed. At your consultation your clinician will explain the risks that apply to you, and the alternatives, before you decide.
Root Canal Treatment — Frequently Asked Questions
It is not usually painful during treatment: the tooth is numbed first, so most people feel pressure rather than pain, and extra anaesthetic can be given if needed. Tenderness when biting for a few days afterwards is common and usually settles.
Usually one or two appointments of 60–90 minutes each, depending on the tooth and how many canals it has. Molars more often need two visits. The crown is fitted on a separate visit afterwards.
A root-treated tooth is more brittle and can crack when you chew. A crown, such as zirconia, covers and protects it so it can keep working normally. The dentist tells you whether your tooth needs one; most do.
Yes. Some infected teeth cause no pain and are found only on a routine X-ray. Treating them early is usually simpler than waiting until pain or swelling starts.
Often, yes. If infection persists or returns, retreatment can clean the canals again and give the tooth another chance. The dentist checks the tooth with an X-ray and explains whether retreatment, surgery or removal is the better option.
From AED 700 per tooth, and from AED 1,200 including a zirconia crown. The final price depends on the tooth and the number of canals and is confirmed after your examination. Your first consultation is free.
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Interested in Root Canal Treatment?
Meet the clinician, get a clear plan with the price, and decide in your own time. We are in Al Qusais, Dubai, open every day from 10 am to 10 pm.
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